i did not sign just one pledge, i actually signed two: the national union of students pledge in this very house, and the leeds universityhe university. i do not regret signing either, but that is not the sole or, even, most important reason why i shall vote against the government today. i shall vote against the government today, because i simply cannot accept that fees of up to £9,000 are the fairest and most sustainable way of funding higher education. before i became a member, i opposed the labor government introducing fees in the first place, and i opposed the labor government introducing top-up fees. i said at the time, as did many honorable members including courageous labor back benchers, "this will lead one day to huge increases in fees and become a never-ending path." sadly, that has been shown to be absolutely correct. >> will the honorable gentleman give way? >> i will not give way, i am afraid, because i have taken my two interventions and the honorable lady will have the chance to intervene on other people. i do apologize we do need to look at higher education funding, but we must look at it as a whole, with

i signed the pledge in this very house and i signed the leeds university union pledged at the university signing either of those pledges. i said at the time, as did many honorable members including courageous labor back benchers, "this will lead one day to huge acreases in fees and beco never-ending path." sadly, that has been shown to be absolutely correct. >> will the honorable gentleman give way? >> i will not give way, i am afraid, because i have taken my two interventions and the honorable lady will have the chance to intervene on other people. i do apologize we do need to look at higher education funding, but we must look at it as a whole, within the education system and with apprenticeships and further education. rushing through this single vote today will do none of that. on the current proposals, i have said all along, and look to the minister for universities and science, my right honorable friend the member for havant as i say it now, that there are indeed many progressive things in the proposals. the levels at which graduates will have to make a contribution, the measures for

i did not sign just one pledge, i actually signed two: the national union of students pledge in this very house, and the leeds universitynion pledge at the university. i do not regret signing either, but that is not the sole or, even, most important reason why i shall vote against the government today. i shall vote against the government today, because i simply cannot accept that fees of up to £9,000 are the fairest and most sustainable way of funding higher education. before i became a member, i opposed the labour government introducing fees in the first place, and i opposed the labour government introducing top-up fees. i said at the time, as did many honorable members including courageous labour back benchers, "this will lead one day to huge increases in fees and become a never-ending path." sadly, that has been shown to be absolutely correct. >> will the honorable gentleman give way? >> i will not give way, i am afraid, because i have taken my two interventions and the honorable lady will have the chance to intervene on other people. i do apologise we do need to look at higher education funding, but we must look at